6/11/2024
Oregon – Official Release: As higher education institutions grapple with an alarming increase in antisemitic activity targeting Jewish students, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) has introduced new legislation to ensure colleges and universities are fulfilling their responsibilities to protect students from discrimination. The Civil Rights Protection Act requires colleges and universities to publicly disclose procedures for handling discrimination reports – building on the Protecting Students on Campus Act that Chavez-DeRemer helped introduce earlier this year.
“Across the country, colleges and universities have repeatedly failed to protect Jewish students from antisemitic protests and riots. It has exposed a dire need for a comprehensive and commonsense standard for these institutions to follow when addressing discrimination. My Civil Rights Protection Act would break down barriers and ensure students have resources to protect themselves and their peers. Students experiencing discrimination already feel isolated and alone – they shouldn’t be left in the dark by the institution that’s supposed to be doing everything possible to protect them,” Chavez-DeRemer said.
Specifically, the Civil Rights Protection Act:
- Requires institutions of higher education to inform students of investigative procedures for discrimination complaints;
- Requires these institutions to designate a coordinator to oversee the investigative process;
- Ensures students who file a complaint receive timely notification when their report has been received, whether or not an investigation will be opened, an explanation of this decision, and what actions are being taken if an investigation is opened;
- Requires these institutions to keep and maintain records of discrimination complaints;
- Ensures students are informed how to submit a complaint to the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education;
- Revokes federal funding for higher education institutions that fail to meet these requirements; and
- Requires the Department of Education to report to Congress on the number and status of complaints being investigated.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
Recently, Chavez-DeRemer voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act to help ensure antisemitic hate crimes on college campuses are properly investigated. She is also a cosponsor of the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which would revoke federal funds for colleges and universities that peddle antisemitism or facilitate events that promote antisemitism in any way.
As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, Chavez-DeRemer has been an outspoken advocate for Jewish students by holding universities accountable:
Chavez-DeRemer Slams Universities’ Lack of Jewish History Classes
Chavez-DeRemer Slams Universities’ Failure to End Unlawful and Antisemitic Protests
Chavez-DeRemer Condemns Columbia’s Failure to Fire Antisemitic Professor, Protect Jewish Students
Chavez-DeRemer to Jewish Students: You shouldn’t have to fear for your life because of who you are
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